A CLEVER TRICK

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 147, 19 December 1933, Page 13

A CLEVER TRICK

ATTEMPT TO DEFRAUD

BETTING ON A CERTAINTY

Stating that it was quite-plain that the prisoner had been guilty of a somewhat smart trick in an attempt to make money, and at tho same time abusing tho Post Office, and possibly casting false suspicion on officials, Mr. Justice MacGregov at tho Supreme Court today sentenced Joe Hoc, a Chinese fruiterer, to six months' imprisonment on a charge of attempting to obtain £150 from a Palniorston North bookmaker by false pretences. ;

Hoo's scheme to defraud tho bookmaker was an ingenious one. He posted a letter in Wellington, addressed to himself in pencil, early on the morning of October 19, the day of the Welling-• ton races. When he received the letter he erased his name and address from the euvelope, and rcaddressed it to the bookmaker in Palmerston. Proceeding to Palmerston by train, Hoe waited there until he' heard the result of tho first race at Trontham, the winner of which paid quite'a'good dividend. Ho then made out a betting slip backing the horse for £.16 10s for a win and £5 for a place. He Mien posted the slip in tho prepared envelope at Palmerston North, and tho bookmaker received it. The bookmaker queried the envelope, which bore the Wellington and Palmerston North postmarks. Hoe was interviewed by the police, and admitted tho offence.

When Hoe appeared for sentence today, his counsel (Mr. A. Hogg) said that the prisoner came to New Zealand some twenty years ago from Canton. He settled in To Kuiti, and by honest dealing ho prospered. At the- present time he- owned properties, for which he had paid £10,000 iv cash. He was a married man with a wife and nine children. Counsel produced testimonials, written by members of Parliament, merchants, and professional men' testifying as to the prisoner's character. It was difficult to understand, he said, why a nian of his character should at: tempt such an offence as the one to which lie had pleaded guilty.

"The prisoner was educated in China," continued Mr. Hogg, "and as your Honour probably knows, the education for the Chinese is largely based" upon the problems of ancient China. For instance, there is a saying there that''he who steals from a robber shall not answer to the mandarin.' • Interpreted, the meaning seems to bo this: that he who does wrong to a wrong-, doer shall not be punished." . ; His Honour: It is a very convenient doctrine. Mr. Hogg: It is, sir, but it seems to hold force -in China. Counsel, in suggesting that probation might be granted or a fine imposed, said that the prisoner had met with financial difficulties owing to the depression. , His Honour: What the prisoner did was by means of a clever trick to try and obtain money from the bookmaker by betting* on a certainty, after he knew the result of the race. It appears, however,, that this prisoner was a bookmaker himself sonio years ago, so he should ha.ye known botter. It is quite plain that he has been guilty of a somewhat smart attempt- to make money, at the same time abusing the Post Office, and possibly easting false suspicion on postal officials. Such a thing must not be lightly dealt with. It seems to me that taking into account the fact that ho is a Chinaman, and that lie might have some idea in his mind such as that suggested by counsel, I will not giv.c him as heavy a sentence. as I might otherwise have done. He is sentenced to six months' imprisonment. '■ ■■■■■'